Unlicensed health coaches can offer advice in Florida — for free

Can anyone give out health advice?  In Florida, the answer now is “sort of.” A federal judge ruled yesterday that the state can limit who gives out dietary advice only if they charge a fee. The case involved Heather Del Castillo, a health coach who was fined around $750 for practicing without a dietary license and forced to stop providing personal health consultations. Castillo argued that not allowing her to share health and diet advice was an infringement of her free speech rights. The court ruled that although Castillo — and others like her — would be allowed to share dietary information, she could not charge people for her services without a professional license. The libertarian law firm that represented her, the Institute for Justice, said it planned to appeal.